Study of the Daily Intake of Cd, Cr and Pb from food items by the inhabitants of Shillong City, Meghalaya India

D.G Marbaniang; C.G.L. Nongpiur

Volume : IV, Issue : I, January - 2015

Study of the Daily Intake of Cd, Cr and Pb from food items by the inhabitants of Shillong City, Meghalaya India

D. G Marbaniang, C. G. L. Nongpiur

Abstract :

Assessment of the daily intake of toxic heavy metals ( Cd, Cr and Pb) is conducted in this study. Rice is staple to the diet of the inhabitants of Shillong City and the rest of the food items are taken in combination to rice. The concentration of Cd, Cr and Pb in both red rice and white rice variety was found to be low. But, with the elevated consumption rate of 340gm day-1 for white rice and 200gm day-1 for red rice, the daily intake of the non-essential Cd Cr and Pb become alarmingly high and may lead to chronic exposure. In this study, it was observed that the average concentration of the different metals follows the order Pb>Cr>Cd. Cereals and pulses group were observed to contain maximum concentration of the different metals. The observed daily intake was compared with the standard recommended values. The daily intake of lead was estimated at 0.3mg, cadmium at 0.308mg and chromium at 1.110 mg. It was concluded, that the diet of the inhabitants of the city of Shillong was contaminated by the metals under investigation.